January 10th, 2016

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www.morungexpress.com

SunDAY • JAnuArY 10 • 2016

DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 8 • 12 PAGes • 5

T H e

ESTD. 2005

All emotion is involuntary when genuine Mexico nabs infamous drug lord ‘El Chapo’

By Sandemo Ngullie

o F

T R u T H

— Mark Twain

Child Scientists from Nagaland attend National Congress

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reflections

P o W e R

Sania-Martina clinch Brisbane International

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climate change: nagaland sees shift in weather patterns Hailstorm affect power lines Morung Express New Dimapur | January 9

Saturday afternoon’s hailstorm disrupted power supply to a major portion of Dimapur as trees fell over power lines while several others went faulty. According to a power department official, feeders (power line) emerging from four major sub-stations – Nagarjan, Metha, Burma Camp and Industrial Estate were affected during the storm disrupting supply to several localities. The worst affected was Metha sub-station as the main 33 Kv line from Nagarjan sub-station was snapped by a falling tree halting supply to localities in the main town area. Airport and Purana Bazaar feeders from Burma Camp went faulty affecting supply to a number of localities within town and beyond the Dhansiri River. An 11Kv line from Industrial Estate was also affected disrupting supply to the Lengrijan area, which was later restored. The official said that department personnel were on the job to reactivate the damaged lines, while adding that a few were rectified by evening. The high tension 33Kv line from Nagarjan was restored around 9:00 pm. Work was ongoing to restore the Airport and Purana Bazaar feeders.

My 2016 plans for the Nagas? Look I am a Minister, I can’t disclose highly classified matter to the public!!

Governor’s Rule imposed in Jammu and Kashmir

NEW DElHI/JAMMU, JANUARY 9 (IANS): Governor’s Rule was on Saturday imposed in Jammu and Kashmir, which is without a government following the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. “Governor’s Rule has been imposed in the State of Jammu and Kashmir,” said a union home ministry statement. Informed sources in the state earlier said that Governor’s Rule had been imposed, but Raj Bhavan sources in Jammu told IANS that no such notification had been issued. Though Sayeed’s daughter Mehbooba Mufti was set to succeed him as chief minister of the PDP-BJP coalition government in the state, she had refused to take oath before the traditional four day period of mourning ended. Sayeed had died in New Delhi’s AIIMS hospital on Thursday.

NSCN (R) refute allegation of recruiting drug addicts

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DIMAPUR, JANUARY 9 (MExN): NSCN (R) on Saturday strongly refuted allegations that it was recruiting drug addicts across the opium belt of Arunachal Pradesh to broaden its extortion empire. A news report quoting officials in southern Arunachal Pradesh had alleged that NSCN (R) was recruiting drug addicts to control the state’s Longding, Tirap and Changlang districts. An MIP statement strongly refuted the allegation made and asserted that it was neither engaging nor recruiting drug addicts for any purpose. “We are for peaceful settlement of the Indo-Naga issue but it seems some people are against peace and against development of our people. They want that people should remain to be in trance so that they keep working as per their willful desire,” the MIP statement read. The NSCN (R), while appreciating the 1st Assam Rifles for nabbing anti-social elements involved in extortion in and around Tirap district and particularly in HQ Khonsa, said it had no link whatsoever with Wingan Agan and Damwang Bangsia, arrested by the security forces. “Many youths taken to drugs, opium are involved in carrying out extortion in the name of various organizations including the NSCN (R) to fulfill their day to day needs as they find it easy way of making money unmindful of the consequences,” it contended.

A road in Dimapur covered by hailstones on Saturday, January 9. Photo by Kikalemla Longkumer

Morung Express News Dimapur | January 9

Sudden rain accompanied by cold winds and hailstorm lashed Dimapur on Saturday afternoon, causing a major dip in the mercury level which brought chilly conditions in the commercial hub. State capital Kohima, already gripped by a cold wave, also reported heavy rainfall and thunder storm in the evening plunging the temperature to the minimum degree Celsius. This is the first showers of the year and despite the biting cold, many took it as blessing. Resi-

dents in a number of colonies were seen collecting rain water. It is not just Nagaland but the entire North East region that is seeing minimum temperatures plunging to new levels and settling in single digits for the last few days, even reporting some record low temperatures. On December 28, 2015 Kohima in Nagaland recorded night temperature at 1°C, which is the lowest minimum after 2009 when the State capital recorded sub-zero temperature. Saturday’s unexpected rain and hailstorm has prompted concerns whether it was an impact of climate change or it was

just a one-off phenomenon. The Indian Institute of Science only recently cautioned Nagaland that it is vulnerable to climate change-accentuated by the dwindling forest area. Hail storm or rain in January does not necessarily have to be attributed to climate change, according to Lochumi, SDO and in-charge of Meteorological department when contacted. Such weather condition can also be caused by sea depression, she maintained. The SDO, however, voiced concern that Nagaland was certainly witnessing climate change, indicated by erratic

weather behavior. “It is not necessarily about the weather being colder or becoming hotter. Climate change basically brings about unstable weather conditions,” Lochumi pointed out. According to her, change in weather pattern is being experienced in Nagaland with December becoming colder during winter while temperature shoots up in January. “Going by our statistical distribution of weather pattern, January should be colder than December,” she said. Fluctuating weather conditions is an indicator of the im-

pact of global warming and climate change. In 2014, December, Lochumi revealed that the minimum temperature hovered around 5-6° Celsius in Dimapur. It suddenly shot up to a minimum of 8-10° Celsius in January 2015. “This is an indication of climate change,” she pointed out. The North East region usually witnesses minimum temperatures in double digits, ranging between 10° Celsius and 20° Celsius during December. However, under the influence of climate change, this pattern has seen shifts with December reeling with minimum

temperature while January month which is expected to be colder have become warmer. According to reports, since December 28, 2015 Kohima has been reeling with a minimum night temperature below 1° Celsius, which is the lowest minimum on record. Nagaland has been witnessing frequent unusual weather pattern for some years. Increasing these would be the indications of climate change and would drastically impact the environment. In recent memory, the State witnessed unseasonal rain in December of 2010 and January, 2012.

499 persons arrested Nine injured in Williamnagar-Meghalaya blast in Kohima during 2015

KOHIMA, JANUARY 9 (MExN): In 2015, Kohima Police arrested 499 persons, and registered a total number of 352 cognizable cases from January to December in the district. This was informed today in a press note from the Sr Superintendent of Police, Kohima, Joseph Hesso. Of the 499 persons arrested, Hesso informed that 466 are males while 33 are females. In addition, a total of 6 juveniles were also arrested in the year 2015 under various case connections. The total number of cases registered against women was 50 out of which 24 are crime against women and 26 are crimes committed by women. Meanwhile, a total of 252 ILP defaulters were arrested during the year 2015 and were booked under section 3 and 4 of BEFR Act. Out of the 352 cognizable cases registered in the state capital, 161 were reported cases while 191 were of self detected (suo-motu) cases by the Kohima district police. Shedding light on the status of these cases, Kohima Police informed that chargesheets have been produced for 290 cases; final reports made for 31 cases, and another 31 cases are pending investigation. The Sr SP further highlighted the ‘top six’ cases out of the 191 suo-motu cases (self detected cases). This includes the recovery of 56 (fifty six) stolen vehicles worth about Rs. 2.79 crores. The case involved 25 vehicles which were reported stolen from other states. He mentioned the seizure of 6708 kgs of Contraband Ganja worth about Rs. 3 crores in the national market and 900 grams of Oipum worth Rs. 27,000/- in the national market. Also making the ‘top six’ list was the seizure of various brands of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) comprising of 36,847 bottles of various categories worth about Rs. 75 lakhs in the local market. The Sr SP then highlighted the seizure of 1900 kgs of Gensing without valid permit and transit pass worth Rs. 57 lakhs in the local market; and seizure of various types of banned cough syrups and drugs worth Rs. 25, 70,300/- in the street market “3705 bottles (Approx) consisting of Roncodex, Codectuss and Phenyrex banned cough syrup /drugs and 2, 20,693 nos. of Spasmo Proxyvon and Nitrosun capsules.” He then made mention of the seizure of 18 kilos of endangered Pangolin scales worth Rs. 12, 03,758/- in the national market. The Sr SP meanwhile acknowledged the public for their support and asked for continued co-operation. “Inspite of our shortcomings and failures we acknowledged the support and guidance provided by the citizens and through this we would like to convey our special thanks to the citizens particularly those who have helped us in prevention and detection of crimes and criminals in the township,” he said. He further requested citizens to come forward and “correct us so as to improve our working system.” “We also assure that we will give our best this year too in providing security and safety to the citizens and their properties. Help us to serve you better,” he added.

SHIllONg, JANUARY 9 (AgENCIES): Nine people were injured -- three of them critically -- when Garo militants triggered a bomb blast on Saturday in Williamnagar, the district headquarters of East Garo Hills in Meghalaya, police said. The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants planted the bomb at a wine store at the Williamnagar market, Meghalaya Director General of Police Rajiv Metha told IANS. “Nine people, including a woman, were injured. Three of them are in critical condition and have been rushed to the Tura Civil Hospital in West Garo Hills dis-

trict,” Mehta said. He said police evacuated the market area and launched a search operation to look for any other explosives. “The GNLA’s attack on civilians is an act of cowardice and desperation. The GNLA has been experiencing a series of desertions in the recent past due to intense police operations,” the police chief said. Mehta said one of the perpetrators has been identified as Ajan Ch. Momin alias Jimmy, who was directed by Sohan D. Shira, the self-styled military wing chief of the GNLA. The GNLA, which claims to be fighting for a separate ‘Garoland’ in western Meghalaya, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Cham-

pion R. Sangma, who is lodged in the Shillong jail after being arrested from near the India-Bangladesh border in 2012. The Garo Students’ Union (GSU) meanwhile condemned the attack today at the Williamnagar Bazar at around 12:3012.45 pm stating that this is an act of treason which seriously sets back the peace overtures extended by the Government of India (GoI) and Meghalaya Government. “This kind of cowardly act is rendering the efforts of the NGOs to bring peace to Garo Hills useless,” general secretary of GSU John Miltu Sangma said in a statement. “We request any group not to perpetrate such acts in the future

as it is an act of terrorism and callous treatment with the lives of the people. We also request the government to take extra measures to ensure such incidents are controlled and secure the lives of its citizens,” Sangma said. The GSU further stated that horrendous acts of this nature bring hardships on its own people and it shows its lack of ideology and their desperation. “There can be no such ideology which espouses terrible hardships and grievous injuries on its own people. In the long run, the development of Garo Hills is being set back for decades by such desperate measures,” he added.

nagaland street fashion showcased in london

Fabric of India exhibition displays street fashion from Nagaland

Images on display at the V&A: Man in Ao Naga Shawl. Chakhesang Naga girl at Hornbill Festival. Khrieleni Terhuja with a friend returning from the church on a Sunday in Dimapur. Photos by Manou

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hotographs of street fashion in Nagaland, captured by Manou, an Indian photographer, who runs the photo blog ‘Wearabout,’ are on display at the Fabric of India exhibition at the V&A Musuem, London. Taking images across India, Manou, shows the continued use

of hand-made textiles in a regionally and socially diverse society. The Fabric of India exhibition is a roundup of the importance of textiles in India, covering the history of textiles to 20th century clothes by contemporary Indian designers and Manou’s images are a final reflection on the pervasive, and per-

sistent nature of hand-made Indian textiles. Suzy Menkes, the International Vogue editor, writes of the Fabric Of India exhibition as one of the most memorable shows of 2015 and mentions Manou who has spent months in Nagaland and few other North East states document-

ing street fashion. She says, “Most striking of all are the images from the street-style photographer, Manou, showing Indian clothes today - one of many gestures that bring the show to life.” The exhibition started on October 3, 2015 and closes on January 10, 2016.


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